Device for collecting biological samples and corresponding method

Abstract

Device for the collection of biological samples in order to obtain the replication of bacteria contained in a biological sample to detect the presence of said bacteria, comprising at least a test tube (13) able to contain the sample taken and into which a culture or growth broth (32) is introduced in order to grow bacteria, and a pick-up unit (12) to take the biological sample, able to be inserted partly inside the test tube (13), wherein the pick-up unit (12) comprises a first stopper (14) to close the test tube (13), a tubular suction member (18) associated with one side of the first stopper (14) in order to take in the culture or growth broth (32), a hollow rod (15) associated with an opposite side of the first stopper (14) and able to be inserted into the test tube (13). The hollow rod (15) is connected fluidically at one end to the tubular suction member (18) and at the opposite end provided with at least a collection swab (17, 1 17) for the biological sample, able to be housed inside the test tube (13), the collection swab (17, 1 17) including passage ways able to put the inside of the test tube (13) in communication with the inside of the hollow rod (15), so as to allow the culture or growth broth (32) taken in to flow through the hollow rod (15), from the tubular suction member (18) toward the inside of the test tube (13).

Description

field of invention [0001] The present invention relates to a device that can be used in laboratory diagnosis and a corresponding method for collecting biological samples, such as throat swabs, swabs on wounds and generally skin or mucous membrane swabs, for use in biological samples Contains the replication or growth of bacteria to detect the presence of said bacteria in a biological sample. Background of the invention [0002] Laboratory diagnostics known for the purpose of detecting the presence or absence of bacteria in a biological sample provide for the collection of a biological sample and the reproduction of the bacteria contained therein in order to detect it. Typically, for the collection of said biological samples, traditional swabs of the "cotton swab" type are utilized, as well as novel swabs such as, for example, that described in International Application WO-A-2004 / 086979 filed in the name of Copan Innovation Limited Those described, which provide a solid rod ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

The disadvantage of the second solution is that it requires the use of a dilute solution to remove bacteria from the swab and additional seeding of the swab in a Petri dish, and thus does not immediately allow potentially infected samples to come into contact with the growth broth

[0005] Conversely, solutions using dry sampling lose bacterial inoculum if the Petri dish is streaked several hours after sample removal

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